Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel out for preseason

Aug. 18, 2013
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)Rookies are part of the NFL's fabric, and their impacts on their new teams is often significant. USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis highlights one per club worth watching in 2013.) EJ Manuel, Bills: He was the only quarterback taken in the first round of the 2013 draft. Manuel only needs to beat out Cardinals castoff Kevin Kolb (4) to earn the starting job in Buffalo's first season under new coach Doug Marrone. / Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports

Manuel seemed to take hold of the job Friday night, when he relieved Kolb and completed 10 of 12 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 20-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

But Manuel "had some swelling in his left knee" on Saturday morning, Marrone said in a statement issued by the team, and surgery was scheduled. It is unclear when Manuel was injured.

"He will miss the remainder of the preseason and then be re-evaluated at that time," Marrone said in the statement. "Kevin Kolb will be our starting quarterback for this weekend's game at Washington."

Kolb, 28, was 13-of-21 passing for 111 yards with an interception against the Vikings. He signed a two-year, $6.1 million contract with the Bills in April after three mostly disappointing seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

In his post-game news conference on Friday, Manuel was upbeat and did not hint in any way that he'd gotten hurt.

"I just want to continue to show coach (Nathaniel) Hackett that I can learn and continue to show what I can do out on the field to my teammates and continue to earn their respect," he said. "I'm satisfied and happy we won the game and I thought we played well tonight."

The plan always has been to transition to Manuel, the No. 16 overall pick out of Florida State who was 26-of-33 passing for 199 yards and two touchdowns in his first two exhibition outings. But it appears that'll be on hold at least a little longer now.

Marrone also announced that wide receiver Kevin Elliott has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the season.

Sal Maiorana from the (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle, a Gannett property, contributed to this report.